Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Fuel Advertising topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Agriculture division seeks to modernize fuel-advertising rules, add renewable-fuel labeling
Summary
The Department of Agriculture's Division of Measurement Standards presented Assembly Bill 29 to the Senate Natural Resources Committee, proposing updates to Nevada's statutes on motor fuel advertising, pump labeling, electronic signage and renewable-fuel labeling; industry groups generally supported the measure and asked only technical fixes.
Assembly Bill 29 would modernize Nevada statutes that govern advertising and labeling for motor fuels and petroleum products, the Division of Measurement Standards said at a Senate Natural Resources hearing.
Bill Strzezinski, division administrator for the Department of Agriculture's Division of Measurement Standards, told the committee the language in chapter 590 of the Nevada Revised Statutes is largely unchanged since the 1950s and does not reflect modern retail practices. "We found recently that this section has grown quite out of date and unresponsive to the modern needs of both the industry and the consumer," he said.
Key changes in AB 29 described at the hearing include requiring clearer pump labeling for renewable fuels and oxygenates (for example, ethanol blends such as E85), requiring that a prominently posted higher pre-discount price be shown when reduced prices are offered, clarifying rules for electronic signage (including visibility day and night) and requiring conspicuous contact information at unattended (card-lock) stations. Strzezinski said the bill also seeks simpler, more interpretable language about street signs and pump displays to avoid overly prescriptive rules on font sizes and colors.
Strzezinski said the division will continue its on-site verification work; he described staffing issues in rural Nevada, noting that the Elko office at times had zero inspectors and is now fully staffed with two inspectors working through a backlog. "When we are fully staffed, we have two inspectors working out of our Elko office," he said, adding the division seals pumps when inspected.
Industry commenters spoke in support and neutral positions. Zoe Houghton of the Energy and Convenience Association of Nevada said the association supports AB 29 because it helps single retailers comply with modern advertising and renewable-fuel labeling. John Sandy of the Western States Petroleum Association said his group was neutral but will provide technical amendments that staff have accepted.
Senators asked about consumer-facing issues such as dual pricing (cash vs. card), debit-card charges and complaint procedures. Strzezinski said retailers must not advertise a discount in a misleading way and encouraged consumers to report pump errors to the division for investigation.
The committee accepted support and neutral testimony; no opposition callers were recorded in the hearing and the sponsor offered no closing amendments. The chair closed the hearing; no committee vote occurred at this session.
